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In reply to the discussion: TEXAS Republicans have disenfranchised one-half million voters, mostly women, mostly Dems [View all]Coyotl
(15,262 posts)22. The Future of the Voting Rights Act - How effective is Section 2 ...
The Future of the Voting Rights Act
How effective is Section 2, the part of the law the Supreme Court left alone?
By Nicholas Stephanopoulos - http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2013/10/section_2_of_the_voting_rights_act_is_more_effective_than_expected_new_research.html
How effective is Section 2, the part of the law the Supreme Court left alone?
By Nicholas Stephanopoulos - http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2013/10/section_2_of_the_voting_rights_act_is_more_effective_than_expected_new_research.html
A voting rights battle royal began last month when the Department of Justice sued North Carolina over its restrictive new election law. DOJ alleged that the law, which imposes a photo ID requirement for voting, ends same-day voter registration, and cuts back on early voting, violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Earlier this summer the DOJ also filed two Section 2 suits against Texas, arguing that its photo ID law and electoral district maps are illegal.
Section 2 is the VRAs core remaining prohibition of racial discrimination in voting. It bans practices that make it more difficult for minority voters to participate in the political process and elect representatives of their choice. It applies to both redistricting (as in Texas) and voting restrictions (as in North Carolina). And it just became a whole lot more important thanks to the Supreme Courts June decision in Shelby County v. Holder, which neutered the VRAs other key provision, Section 5. Section 5 used to bar certain states and cities, mostly in the South, from changing their election laws unless they first received federal approval. To get approval, the jurisdictions had to prove that their changes wouldnt make minority voters worse off. Now that Section 5 is essentially gone, all eyes are on Section 2.
How effective is Section 2 at protecting minorities voting rights compared with Section 5? Surprisingly, theres not much research out there on this question. To figure out the answer, I analyzed data about all districts in the South and all VRA lawsuits around the country. Heres the gist of what I found: Section 2 is worse than Section 5 at stopping redistricting that breaks up districts in which minority voters are numerous enough to elect their preferred candidates. But its better at blocking voting restrictions than is commonly realized (though not as good as Section 5). .....
Section 2 is the VRAs core remaining prohibition of racial discrimination in voting. It bans practices that make it more difficult for minority voters to participate in the political process and elect representatives of their choice. It applies to both redistricting (as in Texas) and voting restrictions (as in North Carolina). And it just became a whole lot more important thanks to the Supreme Courts June decision in Shelby County v. Holder, which neutered the VRAs other key provision, Section 5. Section 5 used to bar certain states and cities, mostly in the South, from changing their election laws unless they first received federal approval. To get approval, the jurisdictions had to prove that their changes wouldnt make minority voters worse off. Now that Section 5 is essentially gone, all eyes are on Section 2.
How effective is Section 2 at protecting minorities voting rights compared with Section 5? Surprisingly, theres not much research out there on this question. To figure out the answer, I analyzed data about all districts in the South and all VRA lawsuits around the country. Heres the gist of what I found: Section 2 is worse than Section 5 at stopping redistricting that breaks up districts in which minority voters are numerous enough to elect their preferred candidates. But its better at blocking voting restrictions than is commonly realized (though not as good as Section 5). .....
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TEXAS Republicans have disenfranchised one-half million voters, mostly women, mostly Dems [View all]
Coyotl
Oct 2013
OP
In legal filing they claim it isn't discrimination because they've done it in so many states.
Coyotl
Oct 2013
#14
You ain't kidding. When I moved here I had to first get my car registered, and then
ScreamingMeemie
Oct 2013
#20
'pukes know and revel in the fact that an individual will likely give up if given enough hoops to
indepat
Oct 2013
#23
They are weighing the benefits and the political costs and they know it means more victories.
Coyotl
Oct 2013
#24
Oh, it is not straws. The art of shaving points to win elections is as old as elections.
Coyotl
Oct 2013
#25
It's hard to imagine that making it harder to get a driver's license ...
surrealAmerican
Oct 2013
#21
Is some sort of federal ID enough? Or does it have to be a state issued ID?.............
socialist_n_TN
Oct 2013
#26
Imagine the right-wing outrage if the federal government offered everyone a free ID.
Coyotl
Oct 2013
#31
Yes and yes. Restore all voting rights and have a Democracy Day holiday for voting.
Coyotl
Oct 2013
#28